Pop-out toy device



Oct. 26, 1954 1 A FRAMPTON 2,692,455

POP -OUT TOY DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1954 p 4 g3 f/. j.

Jozn g4, Tram/:22322 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 18, 19.54., Serial No. 404,594

(Cl. L1li- 1.46)

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to novelty toys or tricks, and more particularly to an improved pop-out or jack-in-the-box type of toy or trick device.

Numerous types 4and constructions of so-called jack-in-the-box toys have been proposed heretofore, wherein a body, usually a representation of a clowns head, grotesque human head, or in some cases, an animals body, is caused, upon release or removal of a box cover or lid, to pop or spring suddenly outwardly from the body portion of an associated box or receptacle to thereby frighten, shock, or amuse, as the case may be, the operator of the toy. However, in the greater majority of jack-in-the-box constructions of which I am aware, the pop-out body is generally carried at one end of a relatively large, and in most cases strong compression type of spring, which in operation causes the pop-out body to spring directly outwardlyv from the box upon release of the lid or cover portion thereof. The use of such a spring necessitates generally the employment of some type of positive locking means to hold the toy against release until actuation is desired. As a result, a person is usually forewarned as to the nature of the device and the element of surprise is thereby minimized.

It follows, therefore, that the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novelty pop-out type of toy or trick 4device in the form of a box having `relatively `separable te'lescoping receptacle and cover sections which, when engaged, define a closed chamber, preferably simulating an attractive gift box, and which house internally thereof a movable frame structure and an animal-simulating body such as a mouse orthe like, the frame and animal body being so arranged within the box as to be suddenly movably upwardly and laterally outwardly with respect to the receptacle section of the box upon removal of the cover section therefrom, whereby to impart to an operator the impression that the animal-simulating body is springing directly outwardly from the box.

It is another object of the present vinvention to provide a pop-out toy or trick of the aforesaid character which is simple .in construction and which advantageously may be formed in the most part from inexpensive paperboard materials such as are normally used in the formation of gift boxes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a so-called pop-out toy which is characterized by a novel and startling action, in that the pop-out element, in the form of some living creature, is so varranged as to spring laterally as well as upwardly relative to the base portion of the receptacle upon removal of the cover portion therefrom, thus imparting a realistic lspringing action to such pop-out body.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toy or trick of this character wherein the pop-out body or element oi the trick is formed from a resiliently flexible material, such as rubber or one of the numerous flexible synthetic resins, so that a relatively large body may be contained within a relatively smaller box structure by suitably folding or distorting the popout body at lthe time the same is confined within the associated box or housing, the resilient folding or distortion of the body providing an additional spring-like action to the same upon removal of the associated cover member of the receptacle.

Further objects and advantages will be noted by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a medial transverse vertical sectional View taken through the present pop-out toy, with the cover vor lid portion occupying its closing position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view yshowing the toy with the cover or lid portion removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line d-4 of Fig. 1 g and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View, on a somewhat smaller scale, showing the base section and animal-simulating body of the toy with the cover section removed therefrom.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the present pop-out toy comprises a boxlike receptacle, designated at I0, rwhich includes a lower base section il and an upper cover section I2. The base section il of the box -or ren ceptacle is advantageously formed from paperboard material and includes a bottom wall i 3, upstandi-ng, relatively shallow, outer side walls i4, and inwardly spaced, upstanding, inner side walls l5. As will be noted particularly in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, the inner side walls 15 oi the base ysection extend upwardly beyond the outer side walls i4 thereof to provide fa seating shoulder `lli intermediate the length of the inner side walls I5. The cover section i12 is formed to i-nclude a top wall '|11 and depending, spaced, parallel side walls I8. Additionally, the .cover section l2 is dimensioned so as to telescope over the edge portions ci the inner .side walls l5 of the base section to .provide a substantially flush fit between the lower 4.edges of the outer side walls i8 of the cover section and the upper shoulder' i6 oi the base section. Thus, the box Iii may advantageously take the form of an attractive jewelry or gift box, and may be suitably ornamented on its exterior surfaces so as to intrigue and attract the curiosity of a prospective victim of the trick.

One of the inner side walls of the base section I I, designated at a, is detached in its upper portion from the adjacent inner side walls l5 of the base section, and is provided intermediate its length with a fold line i9, in order that the inner side wall i5a in its upper portion may lex laterally outwardly from the base section Il, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. The inner side wall members l5 may be joined with the outer side walls I4 of the base section in any suitable manner, such as by gluing the lower adjacent regions thereof.

Positioned within the open-topped chamber dened by the inner side walls l5 of the base section is a substantially triangularly shaped teetering or rocking frame, generally designated at 20. Advantageously, the frame 2i! may also be formed of paperboard stock which is folded to produce the configuration disclosed, with the respective ends of the frame being joined to one another, as at 2i, by means of staples or other suitable fastening elements. web 22 which is normally disposed diagonally upwardly relative to the base section, and which extends substantially to the open upper end of the base section as dened by the inner side walls i5. The joined end portions of the frame 2!) provide a laterally projecting double thickness leg 23 which forms a fulcrum providing for rocking or teetering movement thereof between a rst substantially centrally disposed position within the base section of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 1, v

and a second tilted or laterally displaced position adjacent the flexible inner side wall |511 of 'the base section, as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 5.

Connected between the bottom portion of the inner side wall I5a and the base leg of the triangular frame is a resilient tensioning member 2Q which in this instance takes the form of a continuous elastic rubber band. The rubber band 24, at its respective ends, is looped around the lower portion of the inner side wall |511 and the lower right hand corner portion of the frame 20, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Advantageoously, the rubber band 24 is retained in its operative position within suitable cut out notches 25 and 26 formed, respectively, in the inner side wall member l5a and the frame 20'. Thus, the rubber band 24 is arranged so as to resiliently and constantly urge the frame 20 leftwardly, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, to its second position adjacent the flexible inner side wall l5a of the base section of the box. Carried upon the platform portion or web 22 of the frame 20 is an animal-simulating body 2l which, as illustrated in the drawing, may take the form of a rodent or mouse; but it will be here understood that the particular type of animal may be modified so as to simulate substantially any living creature or type of animal, reptile, etc., and hence it is intended that the phrase animal-simulating body as used throughout the specification and claims is intended to encompass broadly any body which simulates the form of a living creature.

The body 21 advantageously may be formed from a resiliently exible material, such as molded rubber or one of the synthetic elastomers, and

I'he frame 20 includes a platform is preferably arranged on the platform 22 so that its forepart extends over the upper apex of the frame 2t, with the rear or hind part of the body being substantially permanently attached to the platform member 22, as by gluing or cementing. Thus, in this manner, the head and body portions o1" the body 2 and the tail portion thereof may be folded and tucked between the parts of the frame 2'. and the inner side walls l5 of the base section in a manner permitting the cover section i2 to easily telescope over the upper portions of the inner side walls i5 of the base section.

In operation, the present toy or trick device is conditioned for actuation by manually moving the frame 25 to its substantially central position within the base section of the box and tucking the forepart of the animal-simulating body 27 downwardly within the base section between the frame 25 and the flexible inner side wall |5a of the base section, thus tensioning the rubber band or member 2d. At this time, by holding the exible inner side Wall I5a inwardly, the cover section I2 may be easily telescoped over the upper portion of the inner side walls i5 to close the box and to hold the frame 2i? and animal-simulating body 27 in their substantially central positions within the base section of the box. Now the toy or trick is conditioned to be actuated upon removal of the cover section l2, at which time, as soon as the cover section i2 clears the upper edges of the inner side walls i5 of the base section, the frame 2t, the animal-simulating body 2, and the exible inner side wall l5a are caused to snap laterally outwardly to their position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing under tension of the rubber band 24. In this latter position,.as shown in Fig. 2, the forward portion of the body 21 extends outwardly and upwardly from the open top or end ofthe base section of the box to impart the impression that the animal is springing outwardly from the interior of the box. The device is conditioned for successive actuation merely by restoring manually the frame 2D and the animalsimulating body 2l to their original or "cocked position, as shown in Fig. 1, and by replacing the cover section of the box.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention provides a structurally simple yet mechanically efficient and attractive type of popout toy or trick device, the same being characterized by an unusual action provided by the combined upward and lateral movement of the animal-simulating body upon removal of the cover member of the box.

rioys or trick devices constructed in accordance with the present invention are characterized by their economy of manufacture, the same advantageously being formed from inexpensive paperboard stock of the type normally employed in the manufacture of jewelry or gift boxes.

While I have disclosed in detail what I presently look upon as a preferred form and construction of my invention, it will be understood that modications as to details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. .r1

I claim:

l. A pop-out toy comprising'a box having relatively detachable base and cover sections, the cover section of said box being formed to telcscope at least partially over the base section thereof to provide a closed receptacle, the Abase section of said box including opposite, spaced parallel side walls and an end wall defining an open top chamber, one of the side walls of said base section being detached from the remaining side walls thereof and arranged to flex laterally outwardly with respect to said base section; a frame positioned within the chamber of said base section and arranged therein for rocking movement between a rst position arranged substantially centrally of said chamber and a second position adjacent the last-named side wall of said base section; an animal-simulating body carried on said frame and arranged so as to be substantially confined within the chamber of said base section when said frame occupies its first centrally located position within said base section and to extend upwardly and outwardly to one side of the open top of said chamber when said frame occupies its said second position; and resilient tensioning means connected between said base section and said frame and urging the latter toward its said second position. the cover section of said box when telescoped over said base section. Serving to hold said frame and animalsimulating body in a substantially central position in said chamber and thereby to tension said last-named means, whereby upon removal of said cover section from said base section, said tensioning means will cause said frame to rock to its said second position and project said animalsimulating body upwardly and outwardly with respect to the open top of said base section.

2. A pop-out toy comprising a box-like enclosure including relatively detachable upper and lower telescoping box sections, the lower section of said enclosure comprising upstanding side wall members and a bottom wall member dening an open top chamber; a teetering frame positioned in said chamber and movable laterally therein, said frame including an upwardly inclined platform portion extending substantially to the open top of said chamber; an animal-simulating body carried on the platform portion of said frame and arranged thereon to have at least a part thereof project laterally outwardly and upwardly from the open top of said chamber upon teetering movement of said frame laterally toward one side of the lower section of said enclosure; resilient tensioning means connected between the lower section of said enclosure and said frame and urging said frame to move laterally toward said one side of the lower section of said enclosure, the upper section of said enclosure being arranged to telescope over the side wall members of the lower section of said enclosure to close said open chamber and to conceal said frame and said animal-simulating body from view, said upper section when telescoped over said lower section serving to move said frame to a substantially central position within said chamber and to tension said tensioning means, whereby upon removal of said upper section from said lower section said tensioning means will cause said frame and the body carried thereby to spring laterally and upwardly with respect to said chamber.

3. In a pop-out toy; a box comprising an open top base receptacle section and a removable cover section telescoping partially over said base section., said base and cover sections when engaged defining an enclosed chamber; a frame arranged in said base section for rocking movement between a rst substantially centrally disposed position in said base section to a second position adjacent one side of said base section, said frame including an upwardly inclined platform portion extending toward the open topof said base section; an animal-simulating body carried on the platform portion of said frame and movable therewith, said body being arranged to be conned within said chamber when said frame occupies its first substantially centrally disposed position in said base section, but being movable with said frame to a position projecting upwardly and outwardly from. the open top of said base section when said frame is moved to its said second position in said base section; and resilient tensioning means connected between said base section and said frame and arranged to urge said frame toward its second position adjacent one side of said base section, said frame being manually movable to its rst centrally disposed position against the action of said tensioning means t0 permit the cover section of said box to be telescoped over said base section and thereby to conceal said frame and said animal-simulating body from View, said tensioning means serving upon removal of said cover section from said base section to quickly rock said frame to its said second position and thereby to suddenly move said animal-simulating body upwardly and outwardly with respect to said base section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 644,121 Yelle Feb'. 27, 1900 1,903,082 Adams Mar. 27, 1933 

